Scratch-awl



(m ModeL) v P. PHILIP. SCRATCH AWL.

No. 445,380. Patented Jan. 27, 1891.

WITNESSES 1N VENT 0R M: 7m 7 M Q Qwfgm.

A TORNE Y UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIC FRANK PIII'LIP, Oli OCKPORT, NEIV YORK.

SC RATC H -AWL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 445,380, dated January 27', 1891. Application filed February 24, 1890. Serial No. 341,448. (No model.)

ToaZZ whom, it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK PHILIP, of Stockport, in the county of Columbia and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Scratch-Awls, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates especially to devices employed for scratching or marking upon boards,timbcr, &c., and has for its object the provision of an awl which maybe retained in the hand while working, the pointed portion being arranged to automatically return within the handle when pressure is removed from a manipulating thumb-piece, thus providing an instrument very compact, cheap, and simple, while at the same time it is rendered harmless it dropped, and may be placed in the pocket.

To attain the desired end my invention consists, essentially, in a tubular slotted handle, wherein plays a pointed rod provided with a manipulating thumb-piece which projects through the slot in the handle. A spring normally holds the rod drawn within the handle, and said handle is provided with a finger-piece, all of which will be hereinafter first fully described, and then pointed out in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved awl with the point projected, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view with the point drawn in, showing the normal position of the various parts of the device. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation, and Fig.4 a plan View, of the thumb-piece for manipulating the awl.

Like letters of reference, wherever they occur, indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.

A is a tubular handle, slotted at Bv closed at O and drawn in at D.

E is a pointed rod encircled bya spring F, which finds a bearing at one end against the drawn-in portion of the tube and at the other against a block G, secured to the inner end of rod E. This block G is provided with a manipulating thumb-piece II, which projects through the slot 13. This thumb-piece is It is upon II.

depressed in at its center, preferably at an angle, in order to prevent the thumb from slipping off while holding the awl in. a projected position. This thumb-piece H projects through the slot in the side of the tube, and by pressing the thumb against it, when the tube is grasped in the hand, (where it is easily held through the medium of the fingerpiece 1,) the awl will be forced out and held in the position shown in Fig. 1. v

I is a finger-piece secured to handle A.

hen in use, myimproved scratch-awl may be carried in the pocket with perfeotsafety or held in the hand, being retained there by means of the finger-piece, and when it is de sired to scratch with the awl it is instantly caused to protrude by pressing the thumb By my construction all danger of accident by dropping or falling upon the awl is obviated.

Having now fully described my invention, what I claim as new therein, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A scratch-awl in which is comprised a hollow slotted handle, a pointed rod playing in said handle and having a block at its inner end bearing a manipulating thu nib-piece which projects through the slot in the side of the handle, said thumb-piece being placed at an angle and having its center depressed, as set forth, and a spring which normally holds the awl drawn into the handle, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a scratch-awl of the character herein specified, a tubular slotted handle closed at one end and having an opening at the other, a finger-piece secured to said handle, a pointed rod within said handle provided with a manipulating thumb-piece projecting through the slot in the tube, and a coiled spring encircling the pointed rod, the whole combined and arranged to operate substantially as shown and described.

FRANK PHILIP.

Witnesses:

A. R. OSTROM, A. W. RossMAN. 

